A Nunavut iron ore mine’s expansion faces backlash from the Inuit community
Hundreds of Mary River Mine employees were unable to return home as Inuit hunters fought for wildlife protection
The proposed expansion of the Mary River Mine in Nunavut was interrupted by a week-long Inuit protest earlier this month. A group of seven hunters barricaded its main road and airstrip, which left 700 mine employees stranded at the facility.
Inuit land defenders were outraged by the planned construction of a 110-kilometre railway, which would connect Mary River Mine to the nearest port in Milne Inlet. While the expansion allows the mine to double its output and ship 12 million tonnes of iron ore annually, it also raises serious environmental concerns.
Posted: Feb 08, 2021 6:41 PM CT | Last Updated: February 9
Iqaluit residents protest on Monday to protect wildlife from the expansion of the Mary River Mine on north Baffin Island. (Beth Brown/CBC)
Community members across Nunavut came out in peaceful protests Monday, to show solidarity with a group of hunters who continue to blockade the Mary River iron ore mine on North Baffin Island.
Protesters at the blockade from Pond Inlet, Igloolik and Arctic Bay say Inuit harvesting rights are being ignored in the company s bid to expand the mine.
Demonstrations started in Pond Inlet last week. New protests were held Monday in Iqaluit, Igloolik, Naujaat and Taloyoak.